Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-02

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

In many places, new homes are needed, but the only space available for building them is in the countryside. Some people believe it is more important to protect the countryside and not build new homes there.

What is your opinion about this?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

 

Student answer (Band 6.5)

In many parts of the world, new houses are needed to meet the accommodation requirements of growing population, therefore new homes are constructed in the countryside. Some individuals argue that it is more important to protect the countryside, therefore new houses should not be build there. I agree with this notion to large extent as countryside plays an important role in supporting agriculture and protecting our planet from various types of pollution.

Firstly, most population in rural areas engage in agricultural occupations as their primary source of income. They rely on land farming, fishery, poultry farming and many more to generate income. If countryside is used to build new houses, many people will loose their jobs eventually. Secondly, there are many green trees in rural areas which not only reduces air pollution but also improves weather conditions. They also supports birdlife. The peaceful environment of countryside also helps us to relax and unwind. For example, I often visit my grandparents who live in a village. It provides me an opportunity to relax and escape the busy city life.

On the other hand, if countryside is used to build houses, accommodation problems of the increasing population can be solved. Moreover, government will pay large amount of money to the owners of that land, to acquire it for construction purposes. This creates a win-win situation.

To conclude, although building new homes in countryside can eliminate accommodation problems. This can also result in increased pollution and unemployment among people who rely on agriculture to earn their incomes. Therefore, alternative means should be discovered to combat housing problems.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the task and maintains a clear position throughout. You have provided relevant arguments for both sides of the issue, although the development of the counter-argument is somewhat brief compared to your main points. The ideas are generally well-supported, such as the mention of agricultural impact and environmental benefits. To reach a higher band, ensure that the counter-argument is balanced with the same level of detail as your primary arguments, and consider providing a more nuanced conclusion that synthesizes the two perspectives rather than just summarizing them.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'On the other hand', and 'To conclude' to signal the progression of your ideas. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical or repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'therefore' and 'also'. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas. To improve, try to vary your linking words and ensure that referencing (e.g., 'this', 'these') is used more precisely to connect sentences within paragraphs.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, covering topics like agriculture, environment, and urban planning. There are some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'loose their jobs' (should be 'lose') and 'pay large amount of money' (should be 'pay a large amount'). While you attempt some less common vocabulary, the overall range is somewhat limited. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and academic phrasing, and be careful with common spelling errors that can distract the reader.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'should not be build' (should be 'built'), 'most population... engage' (should be 'most of the population... engages'), and 'They also supports' (subject-verb agreement error). While these errors are noticeable, they do not generally impede communication. To achieve a higher score, focus on improving subject-verb agreement and ensuring the correct passive voice construction. Increasing the variety of complex sentence structures while maintaining accuracy will also help boost your score.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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